Skylight



SKYLIGHT Filed Nov. 17, 1926 3sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR Sidney 1 011",

ATTORNEYS S. VOLK SKYLIGHT Nov. 5, 1929.

3 Sheets Sheet 2 Filed NOV.

' INVENTOR v (Stdil 75!);

ATTORNEYS NOV. 5 s. SKYLIGHT Filed Nov. 17. 1926. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a d VQP a ne o Y vi, v

ATTOR NEY Patented Nov. 5, 1929 wise SIDNEY VOL'K, -'OF BENTON HARBOR,MIGEIG-AN SKYLIGHT Application filed November 'lheinvention relatesgenerally to improve- ,ments in skylights of that type whichisoffireproof construction and comprises a metallic frame structure made ofseparable members so that the skylight can be disassembled and shippedin knock-down condition.

More specifically defined, the present invention is an improvement overthe skylight which is disclosed in any prior application for UnitedStates Patent, Serial Number 689,277, filed Jan. 29, 1924, and an objectof the present invention is theprovisionina skylight of the characterdescribed having novel means for detachably securing thelower ends ofthe inclined supporting frame members of the skylight to the base of theframe without lap j oints-between said-inclined members and the base.

A- still further object of the inventionisthe zoprovision in askylightofthe character-described of novel supporting frame memberscomprising juxtaposed light gauge metal sections secured togetherwithoutthe use of I solder, welding, bolts, rivets orother fasteningelements extrinsic to the sections-themselves. I

A still further object of -the invention is the provision :in a skylightof the character described of ,novelclamping devices for deeo'tachablysecuring superimposed"members of the skyli ht in place on-underlyingsupporting mem ers.

Other objects and advantages o'ftheinvention will be apparent from-thefollowing description, considered in conjunction with;the

accompanying-drawings, in'which V Figure 1 is'a plan view of a-"skylightcmbodying thepresent invention,

Figure 2 is a relatively enlargedafragmen- -tary vertical sectionsubstantiallyon th'eiline 22 of Figure 1, the top'members of theinclined frame members ofthe skylight {being omitted, I Q 1 Figure 3 isa fragmentaryperspective detail view of the meeting endsof adjacent sideand end members of the-base of the skylight frame structure, V

Figure 4- is a fragmentary vertical, section through a corner portion ofthe skylight; substantially on the line 4;4: of Figure 1,

17, v192s. Serial no. 148,888.

Figure 5 is a plansectional detail view of ,a-cornenportion oftheskylight frame,

Figure 6jis a transverse vertical section through the ridge member ofthe skylight frame with fragmentary portions of a pair ofinclinedsupporting members of the frame shownin elevation, the top of the ridgemember being omitted and the view "illustrating the means forconnectingthelower flanges of the ridg'emember with the adjacentinclined e supporting members.

I 1*igure '7 is a perspective of one of thec'lips embodiedin theinvention; j V Figure 8 is a perspective of one-of'thje supportingmembers embodied in the invention; c; Figure 9 is a V-fragmentaryperspective of the ridgebar; i v

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective of the hip member; a i t Figure11 is, a perspective of one of the is clipls used in conjunction withthe ridge bar; .an J V :Figure 12 is a perspective of oneofthefasteningelements for association' with the clip .disclosedrinFigure 1-1 andthe ridge bar. 7 T he members of the supporting framestructure of the improved skylight are made oflight gauge metal andpreferably are-galvanized or otherwise treated so as to be highlyresistanttorust. The frame structure of vthe skylight comprises abase membergenerally indicated at 1 whichmayliave the form of.an open rectangularframe, a ridgem'eniher 2, inclined hip members 3 which'co'nnect ;theends of-the ridge member 2 with-theadjacent corners of the base 1,,aplurality of relatively long inclined :supporting' vside mem- ,,bersorrafters ,4 which connect the opposite sides of theridge member 2 withthe side sections ofthe base, shorter inclined supporting so sidemembers 5 which connect the adjacent hip members 3 with the side.sections of the base,-relatively long inclined end supporting members'or rafters 6 which connect the ends ,of'the ridgemember2 withithe endsections of the-base,and shorterinclined end supportingmembers 7 whichconnect the hip members 3 with-the end sections of the base.

The base :1 comprisesa pair of-parallel side 7 sections 1 andaipair'ofparallel end sections upwardly inclined retaining lip 11 at itsedge 1 for a purpose to be presently stated. The

' meeting ends of the adjacent sections of the base are cooperativelybeveled. The flanges 8 of certain of the sections of the base have attaching extensions 12 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, eachattaching extension 12being bent flatwise against the outer base of theflange 8 of the adjacent section andsecured to the latter by a suitablefastening device, such as the bolt and nut indicated at 13.

The inner side members of the body portions 9 of adjacent sections ofthe base are formed with upturned juxtaposed flanges 14 at their meetingends as shown in Figure 3, such flanges being provided with alinedtransverse openings 15. The outer side members of the portions 9 ofalternate sections of the base are provided with extending attachingflaps 16 which arebentflatwise against the outer side membersof theportions 9 of the adjacent sections and are secured to the latter bybolts as indicated at 17 in Figure 3. The inclined supporting members3,4, 5,6 and? areidentical in construction in essential respects andeach comprises a main or body portion which is formed of two similarchannel members ar- I laterally through an opening in the web.

portion of the adjacent section and clinched against the latter asindicated at 19 for the fastening means of the web portions of thesections of the inclined side supporting member 4 in Figure 2, wherebythe cooperative sections of the main portion of.

each inclined supportingmember will be secured flatwise to each otherwithout the use of rivets, bolts, or solder. The upper flanges of eachof the inclined supporting members 3,

4, 5, 6 and 7 are inclined downwardly toward their outer edges asindicated at 20 for the upper flanges of the hip member" shown in Figure4: and the outer edge portions of such flanges are turned upwardly andoutwardly as indicated at 21 in Figure 4 for a purpose to be presentlystated. The lower flanges of each of the aforesaid inclined supportingmembers are inclined downwardly and outwardly toward their outer edgeswhich are turned upwardly and outwardly at 23, thus producing guttersfor receiving and conduct ing condensation to the trough-shaped portions9 of the adjacent sections of the base.

The web portions 18 ofthe sections ofthe hip members 8 straddle theupturned flanges 14 at the meeting ends of adjacent sections of the baseand are secured to the latter by bolts and nuts such as indicated at 24-which extend through alined openings in the lapped portions of thesections 18 and the upturned flanges 14, the web portions of thesections 18 base and each of the hip members is additionally secured tothe base by means of a bolt 25 having its shank partially disposedbetween the web portions of the sections of the supporting member andhaving a head comprising oppositely extending lateral branches 26fitting in openings in the webs of the sections of the associatedsupporting member, the remaining portion of the shank of the bolt 25extending through an opening in the outer side portion of the body 9 ofthe adjacent section of the base and being engaged by a nut 27 as shownin F igures 2 and 5. When the nut 27 has been tightened, the lower endof the associated inclined supporting member 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, as thecase may be, will be drawn tightly against the outer side portion of thebody 9 of the adjacent. section of the base and the lower flanges of thelower end portion of that inclined supporting member will rest on theinner side portion of the body 9 of that section of the base, all asillustrated to advantage for the inclined member 4 in Figure 2 of thedrawings. It therefore will be manifest that the inclined supportingmembers of'the frame structure of the skylight may be attached securelyto the base without any necessity of providing flaps or lateralextensions at the lower ends of the'inclined supporting members forconnecting such inclined supporting members with the base: i Y

The main orbody portions of the inclined supporting members have theirlower corner portions cut away within the trough-shaped portions of thesections of the base as indicated at 28 in Figure 2 so as to permitdrainage along the portions 9 of the sections of the base and themeeting ends of portions 9 ofadjacent sections of the base have openingsprohas accumulated in the trough-shaped portions of the base will drainand thus will be discharged or escape outside of the base.

The body of the ridge member 2 likewise comprises a palr of slmilarchannel members,

'vided at the corners of the base as indicated at 29 in Figure 5 throughwhich moisture that .i

as at 30, having their web'portions disposed flatwise against each otherand secured together by punching a portion of one-of such webs laterallythrough the other web and clinching such laterally struck portions ofthe first web against the second web as indicated at 31 in Figures 2 and6. The flanges of each of the sections of the body of the ridge memberare spaced vertically and are inclined downwardly toward their outeredges, the lower flanges of the sections of the ridge memher beingindicated at 32 and being inclined upwardly and outwardly at their edgesat 33. The upper flanges of the sections of the ridge member aredesignated at 34 and have upwardly and outwardly inclined edge portions35. I

The upper ends of the relatively long inclined supporting members 3, 4and 6 extend between the upper and lower flanges of the body of theridge member and have attaching end flaps or extensions, as at 36 forthe members 4 in Figure 2, then flatwise against the web of the body ofthe ridge member and secured to the latter by bolts and nuts as at 37. j

The sections of the bodyof the ridge member are additionally securedtogether and braced by means of clips 38 which extend transverselyacross the lower flanges of the sections of the body of the ridge memberand have side portions 39 which embrace the outer edge portions of thelower flanges 32 and extend on the'upper faces of the lower flanges 32toward the webs of the sections 30. The side portions of the clips whichembrace the flanges 32 and the interposed portions of the flanges 32 maybe provided with alined openings for the reception of bolts 40. Thebolts 40 serve in conjunction with nuts 31 to secure the side portionsof the clips 38 to the flanges 32 of the body of the ridge member andmay also serve to secure attachin extensions 42 on the adjacent inclinedsupporting members of the frame structure of the skylight to the ridgemember of the skylight frame.

The upper flanges of the inclined supporting members of the skylightframe may be covered with putty as indicated at 43 in Fig ure'4, flushwith the edges of the upwardly and outwardly inclined outer edgeportions of the flanges of said inclined supporting members. The puttyof course is retained by the upwardly and outwardly inclined edgeportions of the upper flanges of the inclined supporting members andserves to seal the joint between the bodies of the inclined supportingmembers and the adjacent edge portions of panes of glass which aresupported thereon, as at 44 in Figure 4, and which rest at their loweredges on the downwardly and outwardly inclined flanges of the sectionsof the base against the upwardly and outwardly inclined lip 11. Theridge member and each of the inclined supporting members includes a capbar designated 45 for the ridge member and 46,47, 48, 49 and 50 for themembers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7- respectively. Each of the cap bars hasdownturned longitudinal edge portions as shown for the cap bar45 inFigure 4 and each cap bar serves to cover the adjacent edges of theglass panes which are partially supported by the body of the supportingmemhere with which that cap bar is used. Each cap bar is secured inplace by clamping devices each of whichcomprises a clip 51 having itsside edge portions 52 embracing the outer edge portions of the'upperflanges of the body of the underlying supporting member and a bolthaving a shank 53 extending upwardly through an arched middle portion 54of the clip and having oppositely extending branches '55 at its lowerend retained under the arched I middle portion 54 of the clip. The shank53 extends through an opening in the associated cap bar and is engagedby a nut 56 which is'tightened to secure the cap bar in place.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device,theoperation thereof may be readily understood. The aforesaid parts ofthe improved skylight may be shipped in knock-down condition and theskylight assembled without the use of any unusual skill at-the placewhere it isto be used. The base is adapted to rest on the curbing of asupporting frame structure (not shown) with the downturned flanges 8 ofthe sections of the base disposed within such curbing. The skylight willbe fireproof and also moistureproof and any moisture whichcollects atthe underside of the skylight and condenses will be conducted in thegutters on the lower flanges of the inclined support- 'ing members intothe trough-shaped portions of the sections of the base and then willdrain from the skylight outwardly of the structure on which the skylightis used. The component parts of the supporting frame structure of theskylight are well stayed to one another because of their connectionswith one another as hereinbefore described. For eX- ample, therelatively short inclined supporting members .5 and 7 serve to brace thehip members 3 from the base and also cooperate with adjacent supportingmembers to support the glass panels of the skylight.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of embodimentiin forms :otherthan that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings andItherefore consider as my own all such said body, portion of the base andabutting modifications nd adaptations thereof as I the outer side wallof said body portion of the base, said supporting members comprisingjuxtaposed longitudinal sections secured together, bolts having shankspartially disposed between the sections of said inclined supportingmembers and extending through openings in the outer Wall of the body ofsaid base member, said bolts having lateral branches at their inner endsdisposed in transverse openings in the sections of said inclinedsupporting members, and nuts engaged with the outer end portions of saidbolts.

2. In a skylight frame structure, a substantially rectangular basecomprising a pair of side sections and a pair of end sections, each ofsaid sections being made of light gauge material and having alongitudinally extending body portion substantially V-shaped in crosssectional configuration, the meetlng ends of ad acent sections belngcooperatively beveled, the inner side Walls of the body portions ofadjacent sections having upturned juxtaposedflanges at their meetingends, and hip members supported on the corner portions of said basemember, each of said hip members comprising a pair of juxtaposed securedtogether sectionshaving their lower end portions straddling thejuxtaposed upturned flanges at the meeting ends of the adjacent sectionsof the base member and secured to said last named flanges.

3. In a skylight frame structure, a ridge member comprising a pair ofjuxtaposed longitudinal sections having oppositely turned flanges attheir lower edges, and a clip extending transversely of said sectionsand having side portions embracing the outer edge portions of,saidflanges, bolts securing the lapped portions of the clip and saidflanges together, inclined supporting members at opposite sides of saidridge member, said inclined supporting members having attachingextensions apertured for the reception of the aforesaid bolts, wherebysaid bolts may also serve to connect said inclined supporting memberswith said ridge member.

4. In a metallic building structure-a substantially rectangularsectional base having inwardly directed juxtapositioned flanges at itscorners, hip. members extending from-the corners of the base, the hipmembers including opposed parallel members (which receive the flanges ofeach two adjacent base sections therebetween, and removable fasteningspassing through the hip members and flanges whereby to secure the basesections attach the hip members to the base. I

5. In a metallic building structure a substantially rectangular frameincluding side and end'sections of substantially V-shape incross-section, upstanding flanges on the ends of the adjacent sections,and hip members supported on' the corners of the frame, each of whichincludes a pair of juxtapositioned longitudinal members having theirlower ends disposed upon opposite sides of the flanges and securedthereto. 7

SIDNEY VOLK.

